Shalom,

Today"s "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is another on eof my favorites!

Conductor Of Life

. . . God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life . . . . — 1 JOHN 5:11-12

Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. . . . And these signs shall follow them that believe . . .” (Mark 16:15,17). One of these signs Jesus said would follow believers — not the Early Church, not apostles, not pastors, not preachers, but believers — is, “. . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18).

Why? Because the life of God is in believers!

Sometimes people are specially anointed to minister healing, but that isn’t what Mark 16 is talking about! Every born-again believer has the life of God, the nature of God, the God-kind of life, in him — and by the laying on of hands, that life can be imparted into the physical bodies of others!

That’s why you should lay hands on the sick. When you lay hands on them, that life of God in you is conducted through your hands to others. Often, you’ll be conscious of that life flowing right out of you into them. You’ve got the life of God in you! You’ve got the nature of God in you! God’s a healing God. Put God’s power to work! That’s how God works — through your own hands. God’s not here on earth in Person, but He is in you by His Spirit!

Confession: I am a believing one. I have the life of God in me. And God is a healing God. I lay hands on the sick, and they recover.

AMEN! Dare to believe that you ARE exactly who GOD says you are and you can DO exactly what GOD says you can do! Here is Hillsong with THAT song! "I Am Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

The first thing that I want to share with you today is found in Proverbs 29:16:

16 When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall see the fall of the wicked.

AMEN!!! Never give up! Never give in! OUR GOD is NOT finished with the USA yet! HE is actively turning things around and the righteous will be in charge again! COUNT ON IT! The next exhortation that I have for you is also found in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Colossians 2:6-7:

6 As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. 7 Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.

And finally this cautionary exhortation! Colossians 2:8-10:

8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah). 9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. 10 And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

Refuse to be moved or to comply with the hideous and abominable 'new' ways of the world, which are NOT actually new at all, but are a continuation of the devil's attempt to undermine God and to trick people into following his own evil ways! He still thinks that he can beat ALMIGHTY GOD, even though he has already been defeated by the death, burial and RESURRECTION of the LORD JESUS CHRIST! Let's continually reinforce the TRUTH! Here is Hillsong with "King of Kings": 

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

In keeping with our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today, here is my prayer for YOU from Colossians 1!

9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things— 10 That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]. 11 [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, 12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light. 13 [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness [remission] of our sins.

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The Epistles to the Philippians is my favorite! Today we read chapter 4 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. These are my favorite verses!

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

Whatever the situation or circumstance that we find oursaelves in, the ANSWER is ALWAYS to REJOICE! What do we rejoice in or about? We rejoice for the VICTORY that is OURS because the BATTLE is the LORD'S! Then we have verses 6-7:

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

AMEN! The prerequisite for walking in the peace of GOD is to DO verses 6-7! Then verses 8-9 tell us HOW to do this!

8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. 9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

Not only will the peace of God be ours, but verse 13 also promises THIS:

13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

Along with that wonderful and powerful promise, we also have THIS one in verse 19 for all of those who are  involved in a partner relationship with minitries and ministers of the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST! 

19 And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

HALLELUJAH! Spend some time meditating on the wonderul TRUTHS found throughout the Epistles, which are letters to the CHURCH, explaining just what belongs to us as children of the Most High GOD! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with another powerful song celebrating JESUS! "Never Have I Ever":

Shalom in Him!

  Shalom,

If you know me very well or have been following this blog for very long, you know that my very favorite verse is Philippians 3:10 from the Amplified Bible. Today I want to share this entire portion of Scripture because it all flows together to accomplish verse 10! Paul had been speaking of his previous natural position of honor, and then he said THIS! Verses 7-14:

7 But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake. 8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), 9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] 11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. 12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

HALLELUJAH! Paul, who had previously severely persecuted the Church of Jesus Christ, His body, is now a humble, yet powerful MEMBER of that BODY! If Paul, who had been SO wrong in his thinking and acting, can change to become who GOD designed for him to be, SO CAN YOU! There are NO hopeless cases from God's viewpoint! If you have never received JESUS as your own Lord and Saviour, then I invite you to pray this prayer now, believing in your heart and declaring with your mouth, and becoming that new creation that only the Spirit of Almighty God can cause you to be! 

Almighty God, I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross for me, was raised from the dead, and is now seated at Your right hand. I accept and receive Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and I invite Him to come into my heart and become Lord over my life. I thank You now Father, for welcoming me into Your family. You are my Father. I am Your child. Jesus is my Lord! Amen.

AMEN! You are NOW, and forevermore, a child of God! The Spirit of God lives IN you, never to leave you or forsake you! NOW you are able to receive the INFILLING of the Holy Spirit, giving Him the right to fill YOU to overflowing, and to endue YOU with power from on high to carry out what HE has called you to do! If this is your desire now, then prayer THIS prayer in faith and HE will answer!

Father, I am Your child. I desire to be filled with Holy Spirit and speak with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives me the utterance. By faith, I receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. As I lift my hands to praise You, I fully expect to speak in my heavenly prayer language. Amen.

NOW, spend time in prayer; praise, thanksgiving and worship; study and meditation of His Word; and in intimate fellowship with HIM every day! The anointing within and upon you will cause you to be able to run your race, fulfill your calling and be instrumental in bringing MANY into the Kingdom of God! Here is Hillsong with "Children of the Light":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we have THIS in our website devotional on The Spoken Word Church website!

Practice Power Talk

Power talk is simply speaking words that produce a desired result in yourself or others. Champions think differently. Champions talk differently. They discuss their future, not their past. Champions discuss their victories, not their defeats. Never say anything you don't want someone to believe. Start saying what God says about your life.

Words create pictures in your mind. Those pictures describe what you believe. What you look at the longest will affect you the most.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21)

WORDS are POWERFUL! Make sure that the words that YOU speak are words that you REALLY desire to see come to pass! Speak God's Words! HE confirms HIS WORD from our mouths as though He was speaking them Himself! COUNT ON IT! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We are home from our wonderful trip with our beautiful granddaughters! It was such a great blessing to spend time with them! Now today I want to share THIS with you as a simple reminder of something that is sometimes easy to forget when we focus on our human weaknesses!

You Are A New Creation

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)

God’s Word is clear: once you come to Jesus, once you make Him Lord of your life, you become a new creation. The literal translation of this scripture says you are “a new species of being that never existed before.”

You may not feel like a new creation, but don’t be moved by what you feel. God’s Word says the old has passed away and you have already been made a new creation—regardless of how you feel or how you act.

The moment you were born again, your old self—with its sinful nature—died and a new person with the life and nature of God was created.

Physically, you looked the same because your body is only a house for the real you, your spirit. But on the inside, you changed completely. You became a righteous creation with the nature of God.

On February 11, 1969, at 3 o’clock in the morning, the old Jerry Savelle died when I met Jesus and a new Jerry Savelle came into existence. I am not the same man I once was.

You may say, “But, Brother Jerry, I don’t feel like I’m a new creation.” You may not feel like it, you may not act like it, but the fact is, you are a new creation—because God’s Word says its true.

Confession: Thank You, Father, for making me a new creation in Christ. Because I have the life and nature of God within me, I refuse to be moved by what I see or what I feel. I walk by faith in what your Word says about me. I am a new creation!

Remember that no matter how you may look or feel, if you have received JESUS as Lord and Saviour, then you ARE who HE says you are! Here is Hillsong with THAT song! "I Am Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom, 

We are in another adventure with grandchildren, so I will miss a few posts! Today I will leave you with THIS THOUGHT:

“When you choose to forgive you set a prisoner free, YOU.” 

This TRUTH will set you free more quickly than almost any other! Remember, your FAITH  works, or is energized, through LOVE!  {Galatians 5:6}

For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.

 Here is Hillsong Young And Free with: “Indescribable”:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share yesterday's message fron our Spoken Word website devotional so that you can hear for yourself exaclty what JESUS said and meant!

Perfect Your Daily Success Routine

The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine. Daily tasks should be performed at the same time each day. Weekly tasks should be performed on the same day of the week. Develop a rhythm to your life.

Sit down now. Make a personal list of daily activities. Link each task to a specific time or day to be performed.

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read." (Luke 4:16)

I LOVE that JESUS knew exactly Who He Was! Find out from the Word of God who YOU are and then allow HIM to lead you step by powerful step! Here is Hillsong with "Like Incense"!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is priceless for our spritual growth!

Service Of Passionate Devotion

Lovest thou Me?…Feed My sheep. — John 21:16

Jesus did not say — Make converts to your way of thinking, but look after My sheep, see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Me. We count as service what we do in the way of Christian work; Jesus Christ calls service what we are to Him, not what we do for Him. Discipleship is based on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on adherence to a belief or a creed. “If any man come to Me and hate not…, he cannot be My disciple.” There is no argument and no compulsion, but simply — “If you would be My disciple, you must be devoted to Me.” A man touched by the Spirit of God suddenly says — “Now I see Who Jesus is,” and that is the source of devotion.

To-day we have substituted credal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many are devoted to causes and so few devoted to Jesus Christ. People do not want to be devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started. Jesus Christ is a source of deep offence to the educated mind of to-day that does not want Him in any other way than as a Comrade. Our Lord’s first obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of men; the saving of men was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father. If I am devoted to the cause of humanity only, I will soon be exhausted and come to the place where my love will falter; but if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity though men treat me as a door-mat. The secret of a disciple’s life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of the life is its unobtrusiveness. It is like a corn of wheat, which falls into the ground and dies, but presently it will spring up and alter the whole landscape (John 12:24).

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "You Are Life":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We are beginning Ephesians today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and these verses really blessed me! Ephesians 1:3-6:

3 May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! 4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. 5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]— 6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

EVERYTHING good in our lives comes from HIM and HIS divine purpose! HE loves us beyond our understanding! He is GOD and He is GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Here is Hillsong with "God is Good":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read in 2 Samuel 22:29-37 today how David responded to God's deliverance in his life!

29 For You, O Lord, are my Lamp; the Lord lightens my darkness. 30 For by You I run through a troop; by my God I leap over a wall. 31 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him. 32 For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? 33 God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free. 34 He makes my feet like the hinds’ [firm and able]; He sets me secure and confident upon the heights. 35 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; and Your condescension and gentleness have made me great. 37 You have enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet have not slipped.

I encourage YOU to take account of the blessings of God in your own life and make it a regular practice to thank HIM for them, not just with words, but in song! That IS where the Psalms came from! When you train yourself to become a spontaneous praiser, you will notice not only an attitude change, but you will become even more aware of all of the others ways that HE has provided for you in all other areas! Here is Hillsong with "Thank You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Joseph Prince's "Daily Inspirations" devotional:

The Truth That Frees You

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

What does “the truth shall make you free” in the verse John 8:32 really mean?

Examine the context of this verse and you’ll notice that Jesus said this to the Jews of His day. These were people who at an early age grew up studying and learning the law. Yet, these people, in ways very similar to us today, still battled with fears, anxieties, sicknesses, and all kinds of oppression, bondages, and addictions.

So this truth that Jesus was talking about clearly cannot be the law, because these people could not find freedom in the law. In fact, the truth of the law only brought them into religious bondage.

My friend, the truth that shall make you free, is the truth of His grace. This is the truth that He came to give us. His Word proclaims that “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

The good news is that grace came to set you free from the curse of the law. Grace is not a doctrine or a theological subject. When Jesus talks about grace, He is talking about Himself. Grace is a person. Grace is Jesus Himself.

The truth that has the power to fling wide open your prison doors is His grace. His grace is the antidote to counteract every poison in your mind!

When you encounter Jesus, taste His love, and savor His loving-kindness and tender mercies, every wrong belief begins to dissolve in the glory of His love. And every dark thought and evil addiction that may have held you captive cannot but scatter when it is exposed to the light of His grace!

Your freedom is found in rightly believing in Jesus—His favor and His love in your life. When you believe right about His grace, you will begin to live right.

The more you see in His Word what His grace has done for you, the more fears, condemnation, depression, and destructive habits will lose their grip in your life. And the more you believe and enjoy His grace and love, the more you’ll find the Lord’s wisdom, stability, and peace guiding your decisions and actions.

Right believing always produces right living and the right results.

AMEN! BELIEVE the WORD of GOD! ACT on the WORD of GOD! EXPECT results according to the WORD of GOD! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is another exciting one!

Divine Nature

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: thatby these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped thecorruption that is in the world through lust. — 2 PETER 1:4

When you became a child of God, God imparted His own nature — eternal life — to you. This life, this nature, this being, this substance of God, instantly changed your spirit.

You passed from spiritual death — the realm of Satan — into life, which is the realm of God (1 John 3:14). You passed from the dominion of Satan into the dominion of Christ.

When you received eternal life, the satanic nature passed out of you. The corruption from which you have escaped is spiritual death, the satanic nature (2 Peter 1:4).

The satanic nature passed out of you, not theoretically, but actually. Second Corinthians 5:17 states, “. . . old things are passed away . . . .” And God’s nature came into you.

Now you are a partaker of God’s divine nature — the nature of God — the life of God!

Confession: God’s life is in me. God’s nature is in me. God’s ability is in me. God’s wisdom is in me. For me to fail, God would have to fail. And God can never fail! I am a partaker of His divine nature.

AMEN! I CHOOSE to be a partaker of His Divine nature! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "GO":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today's "Faith To Faith" devotional by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland is very important for every born again believer to know and live!

Know God's Will

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Psalm 127:1

What a time of monumental decisions and changes we’re living in. If there ever was a day when you and I must know God’s will and purpose for our lives, it’s now.

In fact, nothing else is going to work! God is changing and rearranging things, lining them up for the end-time move of the Spirit. If you’re going to keep up, you must know God’s perfect plan for your life—and how to carry it out in His power!

How do you do that? Through prayer.

In fact, God has provided us a prayer in His Word that we can use to receive the wisdom and understanding we need for this critical time we live in. You’ll find it in Colossians 1:9-11.

“For this cause we...do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”

In recent months, God has instructed Gloria and me to pray that prayer for our ministry Partners and for ourselves every day. It’s a powerful, Holy Ghost-inspired prayer that will not only enable you to know what God’s will is, but to have the wisdom and understanding to carry it out.

That’s where most failure comes in Christian endeavors. We get a glimpse of God’s will for our lives in the spirit, but then we mess things up by trying to carry it out in the flesh. Instead of letting the Lord build the house in His power, we try to build it ourselves and end up doing it all in vain.

Don’t make that mistake in the days ahead. Instead, pray this prayer that God has given us. It was written in the New Testament for you. Put your name in it. It’s a prayer you can be sure God will answer. Put it to work in your life daily and God will fill you with His knowledge and understanding!

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Bright As The Sun":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chamber has a very interesting, simple and yet powerful message!

Getting There

Come ye after Me. — Mark 1:17

Where the Selective Affinity Dies and the Sanctified Abandon Lives

One of the greatest hindrances in coming to Jesus is the excuse of temperament. We make our temperament and our natural affinities barriers to coming to Jesus. The first thing we realize when we come to Jesus is that He pays no attention whatever to our natural affinities. We have the notion that we can consecrate our gifts to God. You cannot consecrate what is not yours; there is only one thing you can consecrate to God, and that is your right to yourself (Romans 12:1). If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you. God’s experiments always succeed. The one mark of a saint is the moral originality which springs from abandonment to Jesus Christ. In the life of a saint there is this amazing wellspring of original life all the time; the Spirit of God is a well of water springing up, perennially fresh. The saint realizes that it is God Who engineers circumstances, consequently there is no whine, but a reckless abandon to Jesus. Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you.

If you abandon to Jesus, and come when He says “Come,” He will continue to say “Come” through you; you will go out into life reproducing the echo of Christ’s “Come.” That is the result in every soul who has abandoned and come to Jesus.

Have I come to Jesus? Will I come now?

Present YOURSELF as a living sacrifice to GOD for HIS plans and purposes and you will find that you are more blessed in life than you have ever been before! You CANNOT outgive God! He is a great REWARDER! Trust Him and find the most exciting life you could ever lead! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek  - Volume 2" by Rick Renner is excellent!

THE TEACHING MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things…. — John 14:26

As Jesus continued teaching the disciples about the various roles the Holy Spirit would soon have in their lives, He told them that the Holy Spirit would also “teach” them. Let’s look at that word “teach” in today’s Sparkling Gem and see what Jesus meant when He chose this word.

This word “teach” is the Greek word didasko — a word that is used approximately 200 times in both the Old and New Testaments. It is used so often, in fact, that its meaning is very well established. But to make sure we hit the target correctly, we will take our meaning of didasko from The NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words, which gives the primary meaning of this word as “to teach, inform, instruct, demonstrate, and prescribe.” It continues, “The word is used typically for the relationship between teacher and pupil, instructor, and apprentice. What is taught may be not only knowledge, opinions, or facts but also artistic and technical skills, all of which are to be systematically and thoroughly acquired by the learner through the activity of a teacher.” {Verlyn D. Verbrugge, NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words: Abridged Edition, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000), p. 141}

Thus, in the context of John 14:26, we see that the word didasko means the Holy Spirit has taken on the role of a Teacher, just as Jesus was a Teacher to the disciples. The Holy Spirit has become our Teacher, and we are His pupils. He is our Instructor, and we are the apprentices. Furthermore, the full extent of the Holy Spirit’s teaching is deep and multifaceted. Not only was He sent to us to impart knowledge and facts, lessons from Scripture, and theological truths, but He also teaches us how to live our Christian lives with divinely artistic skill. Instructed by the Teacher who lives within each of us as believers, we receive lessons imparted as we spend time in the Word or prayer or through any aspect of our innumerable life experiences. If we are listening, the Holy Spirit is teaching us constantly. Our responsibility is to listen, to obey, and to internalize and put into practice the truths He is teaching us.

There are always people who claim that if you haven’t been to Bible school, you are untaught and ignorant and therefore unable to be used significantly by God. However, this is simply not the case. It’s true that Bible school can be an immensely beneficial experience, and it’s good for you to read every book that you can read. But if you never go to a Bible school or read a teaching book, the Holy Spirit will still teach you, because He is ordained by the Father to do just that. Teaching is a fundamental part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told His disciples that when the Holy Spirit came, He would teach them, and today the Holy Spirit has been sent to teach you. If you’re seeking the best Teacher in the world, look no further! If you are born again, you have the Holy Spirit — the greatest Teacher in the history of the world — living inside you. If you’ll see yourself as His apprentice and cultivate your partnership together, He’ll teach you everything you need to know to live successfully and victoriously for Christ!

I like to say it this way: The minister (pastor, teacher) teaches the Word, but Holy Spirit teaches ME! HE will teach each of us individually and uniquely in the way that WE can understand, and then DO the Word of God! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers!

Getting There

Come unto Me. — Matthew 11:28

Where the Sin and the Sorrow Cease and the Song and the Saint Commence

Do I want to get there? I can now. The questions that matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by the words — “Come unto Me.” Not — “Do this, or don’t do that”; but — “Come unto Me.” If I will come to Jesus my actual life will be brought into accordance with my real desires; I will actually cease from sin, and actually find the song of the Lord begin.

Have you ever come to Jesus? Watch the stubbornness of your heart, you will do anything rather than the one simple childlike thing — “Come unto Me.” If you want the actual experience of ceasing from sin, you must come to Jesus.

Jesus Christ makes Himself the touchstone. Watch how He used the word “Come.” At the most unexpected moments there is the whisper of the Lord — “Come unto Me”, and you are drawn immediately. Personal contact with Jesus alters everything. Be stupid enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. The attitude of coming is that the will resolutely lets go of everything and deliberately commits all to Him.

“And I will give you rest,” i.e., I will stay you. Not — I will put you to bed and hold your hand and sing you to sleep; but — I will get you out of bed, out of the languor and exhaustion, out of the state of being half dead while you are alive; I will imbue you with the spirit of life, and you will be stayed by the perfection of vital activity. We get pathetic and talk about “suffering the will of the Lord”! Where is the majestic vitality and might of the Son of God about that?

AMEN! THIS is a part of the GREAT 'GOOD NEWS'! All that GOD wants is US! HE has paid the ultimte price for OUR SALVATION! How could we NOT 'Come unto' Him? Let's make our Heavenly Father's heart SING with the JOY of our leaning, trusting and relying on HIM for every good thing! Here is Hillsong with "Ready Or Not":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is another excellent challnge for us!

Heart Hunger

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. — JOHN 6:35

Before Adam sinned, he walked and talked with God. Adam had fellowship with God.

But when Adam fell, his spirit became estranged, or separated, from God.

Since that day, in the life of every person born into this world, there is a heart hunger — a spirit hunger.

This heart hunger causes men to seek something to satisfy it. Some look to worldly possessions. Some look to false religions of this world. Yet nothing can satisfy this heart hunger but God.

Although this heart hunger may have driven a man to all kinds of things, it ends when he finds Jesus Christ. When he becomes acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ and receives eternal life and is born again, he becomes the child of God. Man then has a relationship with God! He can fellowship with God! His heart hunger is satisfied!

Confession: I come to Jesus. Therefore, I shall never hunger. I believe on Jesus. Therefore, I shall never thirst. I am related to God. He is my Father. I have fellowship with Him. My heart is satisfied!

AMEN! Never doubt, once you have received JESUS as Lord and Saviour, that you ARE exactly who HE says that you are! Here is Hillsong with that very song! "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

From today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan we have Proverbs 9:9-11:

9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning. 10 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding. 11 For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.

It is the WISDOM that we get from meditating on and obeying the Word of God, and by fellowshiping with the Spirit of God, that will cause us to have great success in all that we put our hands to! Never forget just WHO lives IN you! The Spirit of the Living God is ever ready to lead, guide and direct each of us in the way that we should go and in keeping with the calling of God on our lives! BE BOLD! GOD has faith in YOU to run your race with determination and faithfulness! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "World Outside Your Window":

Shalom in Him! 

 Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another very powerful message!

What Next?

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. — John 13:17

Determine to Know More Than Others

If you do not cut the moorings, God will have to break them by a storm and send you out. Launch all on God, go out on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and you will get your eyes open. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the smooth waters just inside the harbour bar, full of delight, but always moored; you have to get out through the harbour bar into the great deeps of God and begin to know for yourself, begin to have spiritual discernment.

When you know you should do a thing, and do it, immediately you know more. Revise where you have become “stodgy” spiritually, and you will find it goes back to a point where there was something you knew you should do, but you did not do it because there seemed no immediate call to, and now you have no perception, no discernment; at a time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-possessed. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to go on knowing.

The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you work up occasions to sacrifice yourself; ardour is mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfil your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is a great deal better to fulfil the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Beware of harking back to what you were once when God wants you to be something you have never been. “If any man will do…he shall know…”

I LOVE the last line above! Beware of harking back to what you were once when God wants you to be something you have never been. AMEN! We must stop trying to keep one foot in the past, on what we THINK is safe ground, and one foot in the will and plan and purpose of GOD! GET ALL IN! There are rewards in NO OTHER WAY! Be BOLD! Be STRONG! The Lord your GOD is with you WHEREVER you go! SO GO! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Go":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Just before JESUS gave His life for US, He prayed THIS to the Father in John 17:14-2:

14 I have given and delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. 18 Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth. 20 Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching, 21 That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. 22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: 23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.

Notice especially the underlined verses! This world system, run by the enemy, hated JESUS and hates US! Why? Because they are defeated foes who know that their time is almost up and they do know their own future! The ONLY Truth is GOD and HIS WORD! Ans WE are sanctified, set apart, by HIS WORD! JESUS was NOT siomply p[raying for His followers who were with Him, but for every person who would ever recieve Him as lord and Saviour! THAT means us, too! WE are the witnesses to HIS great work on opur behalf! SALVATION! NOW, because of the NEW BIRTH provided by the sacrifice of JESUS, God the Father loves each and every one of us just as much as HE loves JESUS! We cannot even yet comprehend the fullness of this, but we WILL! We have SUCH a glorious future! Make the decision today that you will never again allow yourself to be moved or shaken by anything or anyone in this world, but that you will encourage yourself inthe Lord, just as David did, through His WORD! Here, to help you with that, is Hillsong Worship with "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is on of my favorites!

Confident, Knowing

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. — 2 CORINTHIANS 5:6-8

“. . . We are always confident, knowing . . . .” I like that! Not hoping. Not guessing. Not maybe so. But knowing! Knowing that while “we” are at home in the body, “we” are absent from the Lord. Yes, God’s Spirit is in our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father,” but Jesus Christ, with a physical, flesh-and-bone resurrected body is at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. And when “we” are absent from the body, “we” will be present with Him there.

Who is “we”?

At the time of his physical death, man leaves his body. When he does, he is no less man than when he had his body. I don’t have space here to recount my entire testimony concerning my experience of dying (for the complete account, please see my minibook entitled, I Went to Hell). But I do want to say this: When I was outside my body, I was no less man than I was when I was inside my body. To me, I was just as real as I am now. I had the same shape. I had the same form. I had the same size. And I knew everything I knew before I left my body.

Confession: The real me lives inside my body. The real me is an eternal spirit being that will never die!

HALLELUJAH! What a glorious future we have to look forward to when our work on earth is done! Let's make the very most of every moment of this life so we can fly joyfully into the next with no regrets and MUCH excitement! Here is Hillsong UNITED with one of my favorite new songs! "Echoes - Til We See The Other Side":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In John 15 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today we find one of the greatest promises in the Word of God! Verse 7 says this:

7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

The KEY to getting our prayers answered is THIS verse AND 1 John 5:14-15:

14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

Find out what the Word of God has to say about whatever you are dealing with. Meditate on that promise until faith rises big in you. Now ASK HIM for that which HE has already promised you, and you KNOW that YOU HAVE IT! So celebrate the answer NOW, when you pray, and you WILL receive! And JESUS gets all the GLORY! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers asks some very important questions of us!

The Never-Failing God

For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. — Hebrews 13:5

What line does my thought take? Does it turn to what God says or to what I fear? Am I learning to say not what God says, but to say something after I have heard what He says? “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

“I will in no wise fail thee”  — not for all my sin and selfishness and stubbornness and waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never fail me? If I have listened to this say-so of God’s, then let me listen again.

“Neither will I in any wise forsake thee”. Sometimes it is not difficulty that makes me think God will forsake me, but drudgery. There is no Hill Difficulty to climb, no vision given, nothing wonderful or beautiful, just the commonplace day in and day out — can I hear God’s say-so in these things?

We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and by, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute. If we have God’s say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways.

AMEN! Learn to trust and rely on the TRUTH of GOD'S WORD and to stand firm on it! WHEN you do this, everything else will fall right into place! Here is Hillsong with "All The power You Need":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Proverbs  in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Verses 1-10 are VITAL! 

1 My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; 2 For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you. 3 Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart. 4 So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man. 5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. 8 It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the first fruits of all your income; 10 So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine.

The underlined parts are the PROMISES for obedience to the Word of God! Let's give JESUS our ALL every single day because HE has already given HIS ALL for US! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Everyday":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

The path to true Wisdom is found in Proverbs 2:1-5:

1 My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, 2 Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; 3 Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, 5 Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.

There IS no greater knowledge than that! And what else is promised for those who will seek HIM and His WAYS and WORD with all of our hearts? Verses 6-11:

6 For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, 8 That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in every area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path. 10 For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you. 11 Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil and the evil men.

HALLELUJAH! GET WISDOM! Everything else will fall into place! Here is Hillsong with "Like Incense (Sometimes By Step)":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Some of the best advice ever is found in our Spoken Word Church website devotional for today!

Screen Doubters

Screen doors prevent obnoxious insects from entering your home. You must assertively screen out people who are carriers of the virus of doubt and unbelief. Boldly protect your ears and life from absorbing talk that does not edify and build.

"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." {Matthew 16:23}

"A little leaven leaventh the whole lump." {Galatians 5:9}

AMEN! Remember that faith comes by HEARING Go's Word! FEAR comes by letting inthe wrods of the enemy! REFUSE! Tune your inner ears to the voice of the Spirit of God Who lives IN you and doubt and fear will melt away! Here is Hillsong with "Not Today!":

Shalom in Him!